Jael soon found Mr. Raby, and told him about the magpie, and begged him to come out and order them back. But Mr. Raby smiled, and shook his head. "That won't do. Young ladies and gentlemen of the present day don't believe in omens."
"But you do know better, sir. I have heard father say you were going into Hillsborough with him one day, and a magpie flew across, and father persuaded you to turn back."
"That is true; he was going in to buy some merino sheep, and I to deposit my rents in Carrington's bank. Next day the bank broke.英文原著 · 《Put Yourself in His Place》
Old Mother Magpie was about the busiest character in the forest. But you must know that there is a great difference between being busy and being industrious. One may be very busy all the time, and yet not in the least industrious; and this was the case with Mother Magpie.英文原著 · 《Queer Little Folks》
So, after this, Tommy Oriole went to rather more concerts, and spent less time at home than ever he did before, which was all that Mother Magpie effected in that quarter. I confess this was very bad in Tommy; but then birds are no better than men in domestic matters, and sometimes will take the most unreasonable courses, if a meddlesome Magpie gets her claw into their nest.英文原著 · 《Queer Little Folks》
He must have come a long way, been walking a long time. Where was he? He looked about him for a moment in a dazed way--and suddenly, with a low cry, shrank back. As though he had been drawn to it by some ghastly magnet, he found himself standing in front of the LaSalle mansion, on Fifth Avenue. No, no; it was not for that he had come--to kill a man! It was only--only to get that money. Yes--he remembered now--that money from the safe, before the Magpie got it. The Magpie was to be there at three o'clock--and the Tocsin was to be there, too.英文原著 · 《The Adventures of Jimmie Dale》
"I--" "TELL me!" she insisted wildly. And then, with a violent effort, Jimmie Dale forced his mind back to the immediate present. He was only inspiring her with terror--and there was the Magpie--and that money in the safe! "Where is the Magpie?" he asked, with quick apprehension. "Am I late? Is he in there already?" "No," she said. "He hasn't come yet." "What time is it?" he demanded anxiously. "About half-past two," she replied.英文原著 · 《The Adventures of Jimmie Dale》
The flashlight was playing full on Jimmie Dale under the table! "Larry the Bat! The Gray Seal! By God!" choked the Magpie. "You-- you--" The Magpie's flashlight, as he shifted it from his right hand to his left and wrenched out his revolver, had fallen upon two men crouched close against the wall by the library door--and he screamed out in an access of fury. "De double cross! A plant! De bulls!英文原著 · 《The Adventures of Jimmie Dale》